Ecosse Subsea Systems makes key engineering appointment

Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) signalled its intent to expand in 2018 with the appointment of the company’s first Engineering Manager.

Mark Brown has joined the subsea technology specialist from PDi where he was Operations Manager and has more than 16 years’ experience working for engineering consultancies, oil and gas operators and subsea contractors, including technical roles at TAQA Bratani, Maersk Oil and Subsea 7.

Mr Brown has a background in subsea engineering, installation and decommissioning operations which includes international experience and encompasses diving, ROV and deep-water activities.

ESS managing director, Mark Gillespie, said: “The natural evolution of the business has seen a change in focus from providing personnel services and consultancy to assembling an in-house team of highly skilled engineers who work across our business lines servicing both internal and external clients.

“Mark’s extensive experience of providing engineering support to all aspects of the supply chain will harness that in-house engineering expertise and align it with our technology development, assets and projects functions, providing a much more streamlined engineering services offering to clients.”

Mr Gillespie added: “Mark’s prior experience working with oil and gas operators and subsea contractors enabled him to successfully deliver on significant design, installation and procurement contracts as part of major field development projects, and this will significantly strengthen the ESS management team and help us move into the next phase of expanding our products and service offering as well as supporting international growth.”

Mark Brown added: “ESS is a positive example of a business which has bridged the gap between the traditional oil and gas sector and the fast-emerging renewables markets, while continuing to develop and expand its engineering capability. This was an attractive proposition which was difficult to refuse.”

Banchory-headquartered ESS has developed an impressive portfolio of patented subsea tools and is regarded as a leading innovator in seabed preparation, trenching and backfill. The company’s SCAR seabed systems – including the largest boulder clearing tool in the world – can be deployed on a variety of subsea tasks required on offshore windfarm projects and major infrastructure and interconnector projects.

ESS provides a range of engineering, technical, equipment hire, fabrication and manpower services to the renewables, interconnector and oil and gas industries, and achieved revenues of more than £27 million according to its latest published annual accounts.